The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-05
Mr.. carlisle,s Tariff Talk.

There are several points in the interview
with ex-Speaker Carlisle, published in our
dispatches yesterday, which are worthy of
much more than passing notice. His
hearty and unqualified Endorsement of the
President is good evidence that the Presi-
dent has the firm support of the Democratic
party, notwithstanding the efforts of few
Democratic critics TO make the country
think otherwise. No one doubts Mr.. Car
isles Democracy or his popularity. He has
been elected Speaker twice and doubtless
will be elected again. Where he leads no
Democrat need fear to follow.
Mr. Carlisle feels confident that the tariff
will be reduced during the next session of
Congress. He gives two reasons for thinking
so. The first is that the revenues will have
to be reduced to get rid of a surplus which
is already large and threatens to reach dan
gerous proportions. The second is that
although the Senate is Republican body,
there are signs that Republican Senators
from the Northwest will vote for tariff re-
duction measure The Northwest is not a
high tariff section. For a long time the
sentiment there has been growing in
favor of tariff reform, and the
Republican leaders have had great
difficulty in keeping their party
solid on the tariff issue The North
western Republicans understand that they
would be greatly benefited by very con-
siderable reduction of the customs duties,
and they cannot be held together much
longer in opposition to their interests. In
fact, Mr. Carlisle points out that the num-
Der of Democratic Congressman from that
section is gradually increasing. Next winter
Western and Northwestern Republicans
will be found supporting a tariff reform
measure, and the number, in all probability,
will be large enough to overcome the pro
tectionistS, even if they have the assistance
of Mr.. Randall and his following
Mr.. Carlisle does not think that the in
ternal revenue taxes ought to be disturbed,
and about all the tariff reformers agree
with him. He says that at the West
many Republicans do not favor re
pealing any of those taxes. Almost the
whole of the internal revenue receipts comes
from the whisky tax, and nobody but the
protectionists wants that tax either re-
pealed or reduced. The protectionists are
clamoring for its repeal because they hope
by that means to save the monopolistic fea-
lures of the customs duties.
Mr.. Carlisle says that to get tariff re-
duction measure passed it may be necessary
to repeal the whole or a part of the tobacco
tax. The tariff reformers should never CON
sent TO the repeal of that tax until it is des
ternined beyond question that its repeal is
necessary to secure the success of tariff re-
form. The tobacco planter would be
benefited very little, if any, by the removal
of the tax, and as for the consumer he
isn't growing. Neither the man who
smokes nor the one who chews would notice
much difference in his tobacco bills if one
half, or even the whole, of the tobacco tax
were to be removed.
Whether the present Congress passes q
tariff reform bill or not depends largely
upon the Ways and Means Committee, ant
as Mr.. Carlisle, in all probability, will have
the selection of that committee, he will be
come more closely associated in the public
mind with the tariff issue as the summer
advances and the time for the meeting Of
CuY,pI.pSs annroachpS